The Green Careers and Skills Day was a collaboration between LANSS, LDNPA, and Cumbria Careers Hub (Enterprising Cumbria). 33 different employers and training providers came along to demonstrate a wide range of careers and training opportunities in the land and nature sector. The Careers Leads from Keswick, The Lakes, John Ruskin, Whitehaven Academy, Cedar House and Sandgate schools were able to bring along 243 students between them. The students had a lot of fun with the interactive activities provided by the employers who had totally entered into the brief to ensure it was a meaningful workbased encounter as per the new Equalex Framework. We know many of the young people attending were amazed at the breadth of opportunity and inspired to consider a career in nature.
Thanks very much to UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) who sponsored the event and came along to see it in action.
See below for more details and photos of some of the activities that took place.
Two presentations about the day - The first gives an overview of the facts and figures about the day and the second comes at it from a work experience angle - linking the day to the new Equalex framework and government guidance on work experience for young people. It gives useful information to anyone wanting to offer work experience or attend a Careers Fairs.
A student learning what's involved in walling from the Dry Stone Walling Association and their youngest ever Master Craftsman David (on the left) "I've never put up and taken down a wall so many times on one day!"
Ernest Cook Trust tested out their fun new Land and Nature jobs Monopoly Board and got lots of good feedback.
Lots to learn about all the skills that Conservation Architecture requires. Michael demonstrates some of the tools of the trade.
How good are your plant and insect ID skills? A University of Cumbria student tells the young people what its like to study there and what course options are available right here in Cumbria.
Students get hands on with the British Geological Society's landslide model......and some lego
Learning what's involved in being a Lake District National Park Ranger.
The team from Savills had an activity to promote good discussions around a career as a Land Agent.
Wild Garsdale Pike got the young people thinking about the importance of our peatlands in terms of carbon capture and what careers are involved in preserving them.
Having a go at the heritage skill of lime plastering and understanding its importance was enjoyed by many of the young people.
The Coppice Coop demonstrated green woodworking techniques and talked about what is involved in managing our woodlands.
Paragon Vets talked about the ins and outs of their Advanced Breeding Programme, students were able to gain some real insight into a lesser known but very important aspect of veterinary practice.
For those interested in the past and how we preserve that, the LDNP Archaeology and Heritage department brought along various artefacts and stories to demonstrate careers available in this field.
Myerscough College's Agricultural Engineering game - how quickly you can disassemble the engine part without being able to see what you are doing - provided discussions and an insight into how engineering fits with Green Careers.
And finally - another heritage skill - blacksmithing was demonstrated by Forged at Home.
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